America's Thanksgiving travel splurge: By the numbers

Money may be tight this year, but Americans aren't letting that ruin their holiday trips

Holiday traffic on the 210 freeway near Los Angeles, Calif.: Only 8 percent of travelers will opt to fly over the Thanksgiving break, the vast majority will drive.
(Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Jobs are scarce. The markets are erratic. Even the cost of a turkey dinner has gone up. But Americans are still digging into their pockets and splurging on road trips so they can spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family. Here, a look at the nation's travel plans, by the numbers:

42.5 million

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4

Percent increase over last year. That's the biggest jump since the economy tanked in 2008.

90

Percent of Thanksgiving travelers who will drive to their destinations this year

60

Increase, in cents, in the average price of a gallon of gas compared to last Thanksgiving

8

Percent of Thanksgiving travelers who will fly to their destinations

10

Percent of Thanksgiving travelers who flew to their destinations last year

20

Percent increase in airfares nationwide since last Thanksgiving

11

Percent increase since 2010 in roundtrip airfares to the 10 most popular Thanksgiving destinations, according to travel website Orbitz

$373

The average roundtrip airfare this year to those top 10 destinations

5

Percent increase in hotel-room rates in the top 25 destinations, according to TravelClick Inc.

$126.35

Average nightly rate at those hotels

$59

Increase in the amount each Thanksgiving traveler can expect to spend, thanks largely to a jump in transportation costs

Sources: LA Times, MarketWatch, Wash. Post, WTOP